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In the late 1960's I was an avid hockey fan as there wasn't any football to watch in the USA. For the WC we had to go to a movie theater and I recall the 1966 WC was on a film called "Goal". So I was hockey fan.
Hockey is similar to football..same basic principles. Hockey in North America had a few artistic players such as Bobby Orr and Guy Lafleur..the rest were goons without any skills. The game was basically to shoot the puck into the corner and have a fellow player chase it with a high stick and elbows flying or shoot it at goal from mid-ice.
Essentially, the same football game played today in the UK..shoot from far away and hope that it goes in or get a cross in and head the ball.
Then in the early 1970's the NHL played the Soviets. With great anticipation, I looked forward to our boys beating the hell of them easily.
Then came the big surprise..I was astonished by the beautiful manner the Soviets played. Great passing with speed, teamwork entwined in artistic skill.
I believe the first few games were from the Red Army Team which beat the New York Rangers 7-3 and Phil Esposito, the Ranger center, who was overweight and who stood in front of the net and tucked in the rebounds, said to a reporter after the game "we just had a bad night". I laughed at this cause actually the Rangers were showed how to play the game.
I recall Boris Mikhalyiv going past three players and scoring a beautiful goal after faking out the goalie with a neat slow backhand into the goal.
I was amazed at the how the Soviets played..truly beautiful.
Then the Soviet All-Stars played the NHL All-Stars and I recall the NHL won by a goal in the last game in Moscow, it was a seven game series. The NHL roughed up the Soviets using dirty tactics.
After that I could not watch the NHL anymore..totally stopped watching them. How could I watch a garbage game with fights, fouls and no artistry after seeing the Soviets.
I equate it today to the British football style..most goals are scored from crosses, the excessive fouls and shooting from too far away in the hope that some how it's a goal. Of course the Top Four in the EPL do not play the game to that degree, but on occasions they do.
Then I remember watching Santos versus Inter Milan in New York..how the players handled and passed the ball..the skill they possessed.
Yes, British Football and to an extent other teams play the old 'hockey" football..truly sad.
Hockey is similar to football..same basic principles. Hockey in North America had a few artistic players such as Bobby Orr and Guy Lafleur..the rest were goons without any skills. The game was basically to shoot the puck into the corner and have a fellow player chase it with a high stick and elbows flying or shoot it at goal from mid-ice.
Essentially, the same football game played today in the UK..shoot from far away and hope that it goes in or get a cross in and head the ball.
Then in the early 1970's the NHL played the Soviets. With great anticipation, I looked forward to our boys beating the hell of them easily.
Then came the big surprise..I was astonished by the beautiful manner the Soviets played. Great passing with speed, teamwork entwined in artistic skill.
I believe the first few games were from the Red Army Team which beat the New York Rangers 7-3 and Phil Esposito, the Ranger center, who was overweight and who stood in front of the net and tucked in the rebounds, said to a reporter after the game "we just had a bad night". I laughed at this cause actually the Rangers were showed how to play the game.
I recall Boris Mikhalyiv going past three players and scoring a beautiful goal after faking out the goalie with a neat slow backhand into the goal.
I was amazed at the how the Soviets played..truly beautiful.
Then the Soviet All-Stars played the NHL All-Stars and I recall the NHL won by a goal in the last game in Moscow, it was a seven game series. The NHL roughed up the Soviets using dirty tactics.
After that I could not watch the NHL anymore..totally stopped watching them. How could I watch a garbage game with fights, fouls and no artistry after seeing the Soviets.
I equate it today to the British football style..most goals are scored from crosses, the excessive fouls and shooting from too far away in the hope that some how it's a goal. Of course the Top Four in the EPL do not play the game to that degree, but on occasions they do.
Then I remember watching Santos versus Inter Milan in New York..how the players handled and passed the ball..the skill they possessed.
Yes, British Football and to an extent other teams play the old 'hockey" football..truly sad.
